Belgian Muslim Community Reminds Us That Peacefully ‘Living Together’ Is the Under-reported Norm

Belgian Muslim Community Reminds Us That Peacefully ‘Living Together’ Is the Under-reported Norm

Have you heard the story about the Muslim community in Belgium that raised money to restore a local synagogue?

Probably not. But it is really important that you do.

The story was first brought to my attention by my colleagues at HuffPost Germany who reported that the oldest Jewish house of worship in Belgium, Synagogue d’Arlon, had been forced to close its doors because of structural problems with the building.

When word went out that the Jewish congregation was short of the funds needed to re-open, a local Muslim community took it upon themselves to call for donations at Friday prayer — even though they themselves do not have a permanent mosque and pray in a converted house.